Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lauded Ravindra Jadeja after Rohit Sharma’s team registered a four-wicket win against England in the second ODI at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Sunday. Jadeja claimed impressive figures of 3-35 in his quota of 10 overs and he was the pick of the bowlers.
The left-arm orthodox spinner accounted for Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Jamie Overton in his fine spell. Chopra hailed Jadeja for turning the tables as he earlier felt that the all-rounder’s career was going down in 50-over version.
“I have to admit that I am guilty as charged. It seemed like his numbers and stature were going down in white-ball cricket. The stocks had gone down and it seemed like the Indian team might not play him at all. There was a possibility that he could be rested,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra noted that Axar Patel has become India’s first-choice spin all-rounder and Gautam Gambhir was expected to prefer Washington Sundar ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.
“They could have said that they had kept his name at the 15th spot in any case, and Axar Patel is their primary all-rounder as he also bats up the order. After that, since Gautam has become the coach, he has promoted Washington Sundar a lot and he likes him. Sundar performed as well and Jadeja was left at the bottom,” he observed.
Jadeja had also returned with fine bowling figures of 3-26 in the nine overs he bowled at Nagpur and Chopra noted that the experienced spinner has been able to make the most of the favorable conditions in the first two games.
“In this team as well, Jadeja is being played as a bowler and not as a batter. He has been kept at No. 7 or No. 8 only. However, he is bowling well. He is bowling at the right spots. If there is even slight help from the pitch, which was the case in Nagpur and Cuttack, he did the job very well in both places,” he said.
The renowned commentator also lauded Jadeja for delivering while bowling in the death overs.
“He has been economical and has been a wicket-taker. He has also been given a new role. From one angle, it seems like a good thing as he is being bowled till the 45th or 46th over and it’s great he has been able to do that. However, if he is required to do that, it doesn’t speak highly of our fast-bowling resources,” Chopra observed.
The final and third ODI between India and England will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
